Cyrus Oguna: It is unfair to blame Uhuru, handshake for high cost of living

President Uhuru Kenyatta is not to be blamed for the rising cost of living witnessed in Kenya, this is according to Government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna.

Speaking on Radio Citizen, the retired Colonel said that the high cost of living is being witnessed in many countries, and is not an Uhuru or Kenya-problem.

“It is not fair to put this blame on one person, it is not the President. There is a neighbouring country where the president told citizens to expect a rise in cost of living, they understood…. But here we are blaming Uhuru. It is not him, he has no individual powers,” Oguna said.

He added that Uhuru has no control over the Russia-Ukraine war, which has been a major contribution to the inflation crisis.

Oguna also responded to accusations from DP Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza brigade, who have been citing the 2018 handshake between Uhuru and Raila Odinga as one of the causes of inflation in Kenya.

“Where is the handshake coming from? I am not a politician but I know at this period people will say many things to praise themselves,” he said.

The Spokesperson said the politicians propagating such ideologies want to score popularity by attacking the government.

“They throw stones at the government to get praise, the truth is that since the handshake there has been peace, development, the Big Four is taking shape, the expressway is there affordable houses are there, hospitals have been built,” Oguna added.

In a media interview on June 28, ODM leader Raila Odinga gave his position on the cost of living.

“I do not want to speak for the government, but I have indeed spoken to President Kenyatta about these issues. I know he is facing a lot of challenges, for example, now the government is being pulled in two different directions; there is a faction of government that is opposing that very government’s agenda,” he said.